April 1, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
The New York Tribune learns that orders were sent last week to the naval commanders at Warrington, near Pensacola, to land the 400 troops on board the Brooklyn, and reinforce Fort Pickens. No intelligence, however, of the execution of this order has yet reached the government. The Washington correspondent of the same paper, in giving this news, adds:
It is not disguised that some apprehension is entertained here of a possible attack by the revolutionary army now encamped before Fort Pickens, under command of General Bragg, though wiser counsels are hoped.
The government does not regard this movement as a reinforcement, and if treated as such by the secession leaders, they must take the consequences. No hostile demonstration is designed, and no attempt will be made to re-take the other forts and navy yard.
In transferring these troops from a sloop of war, which has been stationed off Pensacola for two months, the Secretary of War intended to protect Fort Pickens against surprise or surrender, and if their landing is resisted, reinforcements will be immediately thrown there, be the consequences what they may.
It is not true that the government vessels at Pensacola are short of supplies, or they need not be, with Key West so near at hand. The transport containing all the necessary provisions for the home squadron was detained at New York, but must have reached Pensacola by this time.
RETURN OF COL. LAMON.
Col. Lamon, who went to Charleston for the purpose of making personal investigation of the condition of affairs at Fort Sumter and in the city, returned this afternoon. He visited Major Anderson, and found him well, and determined on the discharge of his duty, whatever it might be. Some of the men in the garrison were sick, but its general state of health was good, considering the close confinement and regimen to which it had been so long subjected. After obtaining the best information accessible under the circumstances, he is fully satisfied that reinforcements could not be introduced without involving a serious collision, and then the experiment would probably fail, even if sustained by a large naval force. The excitement in Charleston was intense, growing out of the belief that the Government was still deliberating upon the policy of sending in supplies of men and provisions to Major Anderson. The Convention was about meeting when he left, and the presence of the delegates had increased the popular feeling. Notwithstanding the strong sentiment which pervaded the community, he was treated with courtesy by Gov. Pickens and all the State officials. No evidence of disrespect was manifested, though the object of his visit to the Fort furnished the occasion for much comment and criticism. The people seemed to him in earnest about secession, and the military preparations exhibited a completeness and skill which gave proof of their conviction that the most serious consequence might happen. No signs of tumult or disorder were discovered. The prevailing tone was one of fixed and resolute purpose. It can hardly be doubted, after the reports of Capt. Fox and Col. Lamon, when taken in connection with the recommendation of Gen. Scott and the highest engineer officers, that the President will soon approve the order for Major Anderson’s withdrawal, which the sensation papers have so repeatedly announced as concluded a week ago. He has no other alternative. The responsibility of this act is neither his nor that of his Administration. It results from the treason and treachery of his predecessor and Mr. Floyd, who refused to allow reinforcements to be sent when no danger would have been incurred. The withdrawal now is determined by military necessity alone, and has no political aspect whatever.
MAJOR ANDERSON’S FUTURE STATION.
The assignment of Major Anderson to the Western Department of the Recruiting Service, after the 30th of June next, has no reference to his present position at Fort Sumter, and no significance as to the intention of the Government concerning his withdrawal from there. The field officers for this duty are detailed every second year, under the supervision of the commanding general. If there be any good reason why they should be employed elsewhere, others are substituted. In this particular case, if Major Anderson should be relieved from Fort Sumter, he will assume the recruiting duty, but the arrangement does not necessarily presuppose that he is to be called from that post. It is merely contingent upon the relief. All the speculations, therefore, which have been predicated upon this abstract fact are erroneous, for it is very well known here that it was a mere matter of routine, of which even the Secretary of War had no knowledge until his attention was called to it today.